diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index 7ebee55..b1152ed 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -12,3 +12,7 @@ include cmd/Makemodule.am
 include initd/Makemodule.am
 include services/Makemodule.am
 include servicecmd/Makemodule.am
+
+install-data-local:
+	$(MKDIR_P) $(DESTDIR)$(SVCDIR)
+
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 3e8608d..d22cec3 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ AM_SILENT_RULES([yes])
 AC_PROG_CC
 AC_PROG_INSTALL
 AC_PROG_RANLIB
+AC_PROG_MKDIR_P
 
 AC_CONFIG_HEADERS([lib/include/config.h])
 AC_DEFINE_DIR(SVCDIR, sysconfdir/init.d, [Startup service directory])